How to Root a Cutting From a Rose Plant
Hundreds of thousands of rose cultivars have been developed over the last 200 years. Rose cultivars fall in and out of favor yearly. The scented red rose you loved as a child may no longer be available for purchase. Typically only the most recently named hybrids and traditional stalwarts of gardens are available from breeders. Rooting cuttings from a rose plant no longer sold commercially is the only way to bring some cultivars into your garden. Be aware that some roses are trademarked or patented. It is illegal to propagate these roses without the consent of the patent holder. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rose cuttings
- 4- to 5-inch pots
- Sterile potting mix or seed starting mix
- Rooting hormone
- Plastic container
- Clear plastic wrap
- Wooden chopsticks or BBQ skewers
Instructions
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How to Root a Rose Cutting
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Take cuttings from certified disease-free roses grown on their own rootstock. The cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches long, cut on a diagonal (ends should be pointy) and come from the current year's growth. Make sure each cutting has three to six leaves at the top.
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Strip the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
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Fill the pots with sterile seed starting mix or sterile potting mix.
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Wet the soil thoroughly.
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Make a hole in the middle of the pot a little larger than the cutting.
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Dip the bottom half of the rose cutting in water than dip in the rooting hormone.
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Gently place the cutting in the soil firming the soil around the cutting.
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Place four chopsticks around the inside rim of the container.
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Cover the entire container with the clear plastic wrap. Tuck the ends of the plastic under the pot. Do not poke holes in the plastic.
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Keep the cuttings moist.
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Place the cuttings in a bright room out of direct sunlight. The cuttings have rooted when you see new growth.
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Tips & Warnings
Cuttings from old-fashioned or nonhybrid roses will root more consistently than cuttings taken from newer hybrids. This technique also works on roses you get in a bouquet. Just trim the bottom 1/3 of the flower stem and use this for your cutting. Cuttings taken in the spring from actively growing stems have a better chance of rooting.
Choose roses grown on their own rootstock. While you will be able to root cuttings from grafted roses, their rootstock may not be suitable for garden life. Always sterilize equipment used on a plant before you using it on another plant. Rooting hormone is sterile. Never dip stems directly into the container; always poor rooting hormone into another container and discard the excess.
